Children&#39;s play seat



uly 6 R. s. P|ERS ON, JR 3,33

CHILDREN'S PLAY SEAT Filed April 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.RAYMOND (3. Pl ERSON,JR BY ATTORNEYS July 18, 1967 R. a. PIERSON, JR-3,331,6I1H

CHILDREN'S PLAY SEAT Filed April 15. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5

INVENTOR RAYMOND G. PIERSON,JR.

ATTORNEYS July 18, 1967 R. G. PIERSON. JR 3,331,631

CHILDREN'S PLAY SEAT Filed April 15. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORRAYMOND e. PIERSON JR, BY

' aw Am W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 6 3,331,631 CHILDRENS PLAY SEATRaymond G. Pierson, Jr., Gardner, Mass, assignor to Hedstrom UnionCompany, Fitchburg, Mass. Filed Apr. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 549,108 6Claims. (Cl. 297-458) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relatesto a play seat for children. It relates more specifically to a play seatwhich is able to function selectively as a baby jumper, a rocker or ababy walker and which also can be folded easily into a compact package.This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSer. No. 406,956, filed October 21, 1964, now abandoned.

Most of the juvenile furniture items now on the market have only onemode of operation; they can be used in only one way by a child.Therefore, those parents who wish their children to have varied exerciseand play are compelled to obtain, store and carry about several separateplay items. As a practical matter, full use is usually not made of anyone of those items.

Accordingly, this invention aims to provide a single item of juvenilefurniture which is capable of operating selectively as a baby jumper, arocker or a baby walker.

Another object of this invention is to provide a childrens play seatcapable of functioning as a stationary baby jumper having exceptionallygood stability.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a childrensplay seat capable of functioning as a rocker whose rocking motion isconfined within selected safe limits for the particular user.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a childrens playseat which is capable of functioning as a baby walker with greatlyreduced capacity for marring furniture and other surfaces with which itmay come into contact.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a childrens playseat which is convertible between jumper, rocker and walker positions,yet which is foldable into a compact package for storage purposes.

The invention accordingly comprises apparatus possessing the features,properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in thearticle hereinafter described and the scope of the invention will beindicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view seat embodying the principles of my tofunction as a baby jumper;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational childrens play seat of FIG. 1 to functionas a rocker;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of of a childrensplay invention and ready view of a portion of the showing the seatadapted the play seat of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating the adjustment ofthe play seat between its jumper and rocker positions;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a similar portion of theplay seat of FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating the adjustment of the playseat for its operation as a baby walker;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of stop memberused on the play seat of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to modification of my play seat.

In my play seat generally, a seat assembly is resiliently suspended froma rocker assembly. The seat assembly is foldable down on the rockerassembly. Stops which are adjustable to prevent the rocking movement ofthe play seat are mounted near the ends of the rocker assembly. Thesestops also function as resilient bumpers when casters are installed onthe rocker assembly and the play seat is used as a baby walker.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, my improvedplay seat comprises a rocker assembly indicated generally at 10 and aseat assembly indicated generally at 12 resiliently suspended from therocker assembly by conventional flexible, resilient means, hereinhelical springs 14.

The rocker assembly 10 includes a pair of parallel, spaced-apartupwardly curved rockers 16. Only one of these has been illustrated forclarity. Each rocker 16 has an upturned rear end 16a and an upturnedforward end 16b. A pair of caster mountings 18 are installed near theopposite ends of each rocker 16 below the upturned end portions 16a and16b. The mountings 18 are adapted to receive the usual swivel-typecaste-rs 19 (FIG. 4).

Like stops 20 are mounted on the opposite ends of each rocker 16 abovecaster mountings 18 at the bases of the upturned end portions 16a and16b. The function and operation of stops 20 will be described moreparticularly later.

The seat assembly 12 includes duplicate, upstanding side scissors framesindicated generally at 22, each consisting of a pair of crossed framemembers 24 and 26 piv otally connected intermediate their ends by pin-s28.

The frame members 24 and 26 have their flattened lower ends 24a and 26a,respectively, pivotally linked to the upturned end portions 16b and 16arespectively by means of the springs 14. The springs 14 are hookedthrough openings 30 in the portions 24a and 26a and their other ends aresecured by means of bolts 32 to the upturned end portions 16a and 16b ofrocker 16.

The upper ends of frame members 26 are turned up and flattened at 26band are pivotally connected there by pins 34 to the opposite arms of aU-shaped, rearwardly curving seat supporting member 36.

The frame members 24, on the other hand, are shorter than frame members26 and their upper ends are hingedly connected by pins 48 to theopposite arms of a generally U-shaped upwardly curving backrest member40. Inclined detents 44 are mounted on the ends of backrest member 40.These engage and stop the ends of frame members 24 when the members 24are in axial alignment with the arms of member 40. The flattened rearends 36a of the seat supporting member 36 are pivotally connected bypins 48 to the opposite arms of frame member 40 at points thereon abovepins 38. The frame member 36 supports a conventional bag seat or body50, while the backrest member 40 carries the usual fabric backrest 52.Also, if desired, a tray 53 may be removably fitted into the forward endportion of the seat supporting member 36..

When the play seat is fully extended, the frame members 24 are in axialalignment with the opposite arms of FIG. 4 showing another backrestmember 40, and the springs 14 are tens-i oned between the lower ends offrame members 24 and 26 and the upturned end portions 16b and 16a,respectively, of rockers 16 so that the seat 50 is normally resilientlysuspended above the rocker assembly To maintain the play seat in itsaforesaid extended condition, slips rings 54 are provided on the arms ofmember 40. Rings 54 may be slid down over the detents 44 to engage themso that the frame members 24 become, in effect, rigid extensions of theopposite arms of backrest member 40.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the play seat may befolded for storage simply by disengaging the slip rings 54, whereuponthe entire seating assembly 12 I can collapse downwardly onto rockerassembly 10, with the backrest member 40 swinging forward and down aboutpins 38 thereby making a flat, compact package.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 in one embodiment of my invention, theidentical stops are preferably fairly thick discs constructed of rubberor plastic or other such relatively rigid, but resilient material. Ofcourse, other stop shapes such as triangular, oval, rectangular, as wellas certain elongated manipulable fingers or detents are also consideredto be within the scope of this invention. Each stop 20 is provided withan off-centered axial passage 55 (FIG. 3) for receiving a rocker 16. Thediameter of passage 55 is the same as, or slightly less than, that ofrocker 16 so that once the stop 20 is slid onto the rocker prior toassembling the play seat, the frictional fit between them issufiiciently tight that it takes a substantial force to move the stop 20relative to the rocker.

Since the opening 55 is off-centered, the distance between the edge of astop 20' and the rocker 16 varies around the periphery of the stopbetween a maximum and a minimum at points 56 and 58, respectively, onthe edge of the stop. Thus, by forcibly swivelling the stops 20 aroundthe rocker 16 as indicated in FIG. 3, one is able to adjust betweenthese extremes the distance to which stops 20 will extend below therockers 16.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the diameter of the stops 20 and thepositioning of their openings 55 are so related to the length andcurvature of rockers 16 that when the stops are in their lower position(i.e. with the rim point 56 directly below rockers 16), they extend downto the horizontal plane containing the lowermost points A of the rockers16.

Accordingly, when the play seat is in the jumper position as in FIG. 1with all of the stops 20 in the lower position as aforesaid, the rockerassembly 10, and hence the entire play seat, is prevented from rocking.In addition, the resilient stops 20 extend fore and aftdownwardly-outwardly from the ends of rockers 16 to the floor giving theplay seat a very long base and, also preventing the play seat fromsliding along the floor. It is apparent, therefore, that assembly 10provides an extremely stable base which will remain upright even withthe most violent bouncing and thrusting movements of a child seated inthe seat 50.

Refer now to FIG. 2 which shows my play seat adapted to function as arocker. The play seat is converted to this rocker position from the babyjumper position illustrated in FIG. 1 simply by swivelling the stops 2%)to the upper position wherein their rim points 58 lie directly under therockers 16 but substantially above the point A. In other Words, eachstop 20 is swivelled from the solid line to the dotted line positionindicated in FIG. 3. With the stops 20* oriented thusly, they extendonly a small distance below rockers 16. A child seated in seat 50 is nowable to rock back and forth as well as to bounce up and down as before.

It is a feature of this invention that the degree or extent of therocking motion of the play seat can be controlled by swivelling thestops 20 only part way to their extreme upper position. For example, fora very young or delicate child the stops 20 can be adjusted so that theystill extend appreciably below rockers 16 to permit only minimum rockingof the assembly 10. The amount of rocking motion permitted, asdetermined by the aforesaid adjustment of stops 20, can be selected tosuit the particular circumstances. It will be appreciated, however, thateven when the stops 28 are in their extreme upper position, they stillextend slightly below rockers 16. Accordingly, they serve as limit stopsto prevent rocking so excessively that an older child might otherwisefall over forward or backward.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, my play seat is also capable offunctioning as a baby walker. For this, the casters 19 are fitted intothe mountings 18 provided in rockers 16. The stops 20 are forcibly slidup on their respective rocker end portions 16a and 16b until they lie ina horizontal plane (FIG. 4). That is, each one is slid from the dottedline position to the solid line position. When the stops 20 arepositioned thusly, they extend or stand out from the front, back andsides of the rocker assembly 10. Consequently, they function as bumpersto cushion impacts of the play seat against furniture and othersurfaces. By this, they protect not only the child in the play seat butalso the finished objects in the home.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified form of stop 60 which gives the play seata distinctive overall appearance. Stop 60 is generally triangular inshape, but has its apex out off to form a flat top surface 62. Itsbottom surface 64 is also filat. Stop 60 has a through passage 66adapted to snugly receive rocker 16 (FIG. 1). The passage 66 isdisplaced toward the top surface 62. Thus, when stop 60 is installed onrocker 16, it acts as an eccentric member much the same as stop 20described above.

When four stops 60 are properly oriented to the down position so thatthe seat is adapted to function as a bouncer (FIG. 1), each presents itsflat side 64 to the floor giving the seat extremely good stability. Inaddition, due to their resilience, they tend to accentuate the bouncingaction of the seat.

Of course, stops 60 can be swivelled around rockers 16 so that thesurface 62 faces the floor. In this position, they permit the seat torock as described above.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in another modified form of my improved playseat, each stop 20 is made up of two separate components, to wit: astabilizer 70 and a retaining member 72, both mounted on an upturnedportion of rocker 16. The stabilizer 70* is a wire member, preferablyplastic coated, made up of two generally triangular, slightly divergingportions 70a and 70b. Each portion 70a and 70b has three legs 74, 76 and78. Each leg 74 is pivotally connected at one end thereof by pivot tothe rocker 16. The other end of each leg 74 forms with leg 76 aprotruding nose 82. The legs 78 of each portion 70a and 70b areconnected by web portion 84. The totality is a rigid structure havingappreciable extent in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.

The retaining member 72 is cup-shaped having a depending resilient skirt72a. Preferably member 72 is made of moderately soft material so it candouble as -a bumper for the play seat. Member 72 also has a centralopening 86 so that it can be slid onto member 16 and positioned abovestabilizer 70. The size of opening 86 is such that member 72 very snuglyengages rocker 16 and has no tendency t-oslide thereon.

Still referring to FIG. 6, each stabilizer 70 is adjustable on therocker 16 about its pivot 80 so that by forcibly swivelling thestabilizer, one is able to adjust the distance to which it will extendbelow the rocker 16. The lengths of the arms 74, 76 and 78 are sorelated to the length and curvature of rocker 16 that when thestabilizer is in its lowermost position (ie with legs 76 below rocker16), as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 6, it extends at least down tothe lowermost point A (FIG. 1) of the rocker 16 with its legs 76 restingflat on the floor. In this position, the web portion 87 of thestabilizer engages the underside of rocker 16 on the side of pivot 80away from the particular end of the rocker. This engagement stops thestabilizer at the proper point. Also, due to the curvature of rocker 16and the shape of stabilizer 70, and the weight of the play seat, thereis no tendency for the stabilizer to swing up from this position evenwhen the seat is violently bounced.

Accordingly, when the play seat is in the jumper position (FIGS. 1 and6) with all of the stabilizers 70 in the lower position as aforesaid,the rocker assembly 10 and hence the entire play seat is prevented fromrocking. The stabilizers 70 extend fore and aft from the ends of therocker 16 to the floor, giving the play seat a very stable base.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, the play seat is converted to its rockerposition from the aforesaid jumper position by swinging each stabilizer70 to its upper position indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 6. The webportion 84 again engages the underside of rocker 16 but on the side ofpivot 80 nearest the corresponding end of the rocker. This engagementlimits the upward swinging of the stabilizer 70. The noses 82 areengaged under the depending skirt 72a of the corresponding retaining member 72 which then holds the stabilizer in this position. In the rockerposition, the legs 76 of stabilizer 70 are vertical and the entire stop20 lies substantially above the point A (FIG. 2) on rocker 16. With theplay seat thus in its rocker position as aforesaid, a child is now ableto rock back and forth and bounce up and down as well.

This modified form of my play seat is also capable of functioning as ababy walker. As before, the casters 19 (FIG. 4) are fitted into themountings 18 provided therefor. The stabilizers 70 are adjusted to theirelevated position wherein they engage under the corresponding retainingmembers 72, as aforesaid. The retaining members 72 then function also asresilient bumpers to cushion impacts of the play seat. The plasticcoated stabilizers 70 also help in this respect as they add neededreinforcement to the members 72 and present a coated surface to anyobject encountered by the play seat.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a single playseat which is readily convertible between a baby jumper, a rocker and ababy walker. The play seat is also easily folded so that it can becarried about easily in the car and conveniently stored in a smallspace. This single play chair which is capable of several modes ofoperation,-replaces three separate and distinct items of juvenilefurniture.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efi'iciently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above article without departingfrom the scope of the invention, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured byLetters Patent is:

1. A childrens play seat convertible between jumper, rocker and walkerpositions, said play seat comprising a pair of parallel, spaced-apart,upwardly-curved rockers, a seat resiliently suspended from said rockers,means for mounting casters near the opposite ends of said rockers andstop means mounted on said rockers, said stop means comprising aplurality of members swingable on said rockers between two operativepositions, in one of said positions said members extend down from saidrockers to points substantially even with the lowermost portions of saidrockers and prevent rocking motion, in the second of said positions saidmembers terminate substantially above said lowermost portions of saidrockers so as not to inhibit said rocking motion, said stop means alsoextending outwardly from said rockers whereby to function as bumperswhen casters are installed in said mounting means and said play seat isused as a baby walker.

2. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop meanscomprise resilient eccentric bodies mounted on and frictionally engagingsaid rockers.

3. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 1 said stop means comprisestabilizing members connected to said rockers adjacent said castermeans.

4. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop meanscomprise frame members pivotally connected to said rockers near saidcaster mounting means, said frame members having portions thereofengaging said rockers when said stop means are in said first position tolimit the swinging movement of said frame members, and said stop meansfurther include resilient retaining means mounted on said rockers abovesaid frame members, said retaining means engaging said frame memberswhen said stop means are in their said second position.

5. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 2 wherein said eccentricbody is generally triangular.

6. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 2 wherein said eccentricbody is discoid.

wherein pivotally mounting References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,323,946 12/1919 Wright 297270 2,618,318 11/1952 Welsh 297-2742,746,203 5/1956 Gibas 248345.1 2,758,632 8/1956 Koller et al. 248l88.12,758,634 8/1956 Wash et al. 297-285 X 2,851,236 9/1958 Koller et al.248188.1 X 2,855,978 10/1958 Hamilton 248188.1 X 2,885,821 5/1959 Frick248-3451 3,093,356 6/1963 Boyalos 248l88.1

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner. G.O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CHILDREN''S PLAY SEAT CONVERTIBLE BETWEEN JUMPER, ROCKER AND WALKERPOSITIONS, SAID PLAY SEAT COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL, SPACED-APART,UPWARDLY-CURVED ROCKERS, A SEAT RESILIENTLY SUSPENDED FROM SAID ROCKERS,MEANS FOR MOUNTING CASTERS NEAR THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID ROCKERS ANDSTOP MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID ROCKERS, SAID STOP MEANS COMPRISING APLURALITY OF MEMBERS SWINGABLE ON SAID ROCKERS BETWEEN TWO OPERATIVEPOSITIONS, IN ONE OF SAID POSITIONS AND MEMBERS EXTEND DOWN FROM SAIDROCKERS TO POINTS SUBSTANTIALLY EVEN WITH THE LOWERMOST PORTIONS